Residents complain of poor garbage collection and maintenance

WHILE the debate continues with regard to waste management contracts in Selangor, the quality of services rendered in certain places has dropped.

One such area affected by the shoddy services provided by Alam Flora contractors is Section 7 in Kota Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

Academic consultant Dr Mahmud Abdul Wahab, 47, said the contractors previously collected rubbish in their area three times a week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

“The contractor was changed a few months ago and rubbish collection became irregular. Sometimes, they will come once a week,” he said.

He said his neighbour even had to resort to buying extra rubbish bins because the existing one was full.

Another resident, Sim Chew, said that he even had to take his rubbish to a public dumpster once because the smell became unbearable.

Both have been living in the area for more than a decade.

Mahmud said the condition at the nearby Section 7 flats were even worse, with rubbish piling up at the common dump areas.

Sim added that the services for cleaning drains and cutting grass were also slacking, and some areas were overgrown with lalang.

“Sometimes, the drains get clogged and many areas have become a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” Sim said.

Mahmud said whenever they complained to the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), they would be directed to Alam Flora.

“We pay assessment to the MBPJ so they should be accountable when services are not up to par,” Mahmud said.

MBPJ councillor A. Thiruveng-gadam had earlier spoken out against the state government’s policy of appointing Alam Flora contractors based on quotas to the Pakatan Rakyat component parties.

Local government, studies and research committee chairman Ronnie Liu had refuted the allegations.

Kampung Tunku assemblyman Lau Weng San had previously released a statement saying that he had sent a letter to Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim expressing the DAP’s view on the matter.

“DAP Selangor has been suggesting to the government to adopt an open-balloting system instead of recommending contractors based on political parties quota,” Lau said.

“Selection of credible contractors must be the top priority. Of late, cleanliness has dropped in certain municipalities like Subang Jaya, Sepang, Sabak Bernam and Kuala Selangor, where the contractors are appointed in accordance with party quotas,” Lau added.